The major new dementia drug in 2023 was Lecanemab (Leqembi), which received traditional FDA approval in July 2023 for early Alzheimer's, working by removing amyloid plaques to slow cognitive decline, though it's not a cure and has potential side effects like brain swelling. Another significant development was positive data for Donanemab, showing it also slows decline by targeting amyloid, with strong results presented at the 2023 AAIC conference, though its approval and access followed later.
Donanemab, like lecanemab, is a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody. Antibodies form part of our immune system and bind to harmful proteins to destroy them. Donanemab contains antibodies that bind to a protein called amyloid, which builds up in the brain in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Reports indicate donanemab could cost anywhere between A$40,000 and $80,000 each year in Australia.
Dementia Australia welcomes the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) registration of Kisunla (donanemab), for use in Australia, providing hope for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in the emerging treatments that may delay the progression of symptoms.
A large study found that older adults who took vitamin D had a 40% lower chance of developing dementia than those who didn't. You can get vitamin D from food like fish, eggs, and vitamin D-fortified milk.
The vitamins that support overall brain wellness include B vitamins, particularly B6, B12, and folate, as well as vitamin D and vitamin E. These nutrients contribute to cognitive function, memory, and overall brain health.
You Miss Out on Sleep
You do a few things you know you shouldn't -- we all do. But some of those bad habits can take a toll on your brain. For example, lack of sleep may be a cause of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
The "2-finger test" for dementia involves an examiner showing a hand gesture (like interlocking index and middle fingers) and asking the patient to copy it, testing motor skills, visual memory, and coordination, as difficulties can signal early cognitive decline, but it's a screening tool, not a definitive diagnosis, prompting further medical evaluation. Other related tests include finger-tapping and finger-to-nose, looking for hesitation or misjudgment in movement.
Life expectancy after a diagnosis of dementia decreases with increasing age. For example, an average person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease between ages 70-79 can expect to survive seven more years, while a diagnosis after age 90 is associated with an expected survival of only 2.8 additional years.
Medicines known as monoclonal antibodies may prevent beta-amyloid from clumping into plaques. They also may remove beta-amyloid plaques that have formed. They do this by helping the body clear them from the brain.
Diagnosis: Requires confirmation of Alzheimer's with elevated beta-amyloid plaques through diagnostic tests like PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests. Insurance coverage: Medicare covers Donanemab if prescribed by physicians participating in a registry.
4 participants died during the trial, with their deaths thought to be related to the drug's side effects. Lilly's trial, known as TRAILBLAZER ALZ-2, included nearly 1,800 people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Participants received a monthly infusion of either donanemab or a dummy drug (placebo) over 18 months.
Donanemab treatment should not be initiated in patients with moderate-to-severe dementia (i.e., those requiring assistance in basic activities of daily living, Clinical Stage ≥ 5), as the safety and efficacy of the drug have not been established in this more advanced disease stage.
Smoking, low physical activity, and a poor diet are all lifestyle and environmental influences that have been linked to rapid dementia decline. Physical activity promotes cardiovascular health, which in turn improves brain function. Those who lead a sedentary lifestyle may experience faster cognitive decline.
Seroquel is the brand name for quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic that is used off-label to treat severe behavioral signs of dementia. It can help with bad symptoms, including agitation, aggressiveness, and hallucinations, that other drugs don't help with.
These foods include:
Remaining at home but with extra support can be a good option for some people with dementia. It allows them to stay in a place that feels familiar and safe to them. It is important to make sure that the person can remain safe and well and get the support they need at home.
At approximately the same point in the evolution of AD, but generally just a little later in the temporal sequence, AD persons lose the ability to bathe without assistance (stage 6b).
While family caregivers often provide the primary daily support for individuals with dementia, legal responsibility for decision-making and financial management can fall to spouses, adult children (depending on filial responsibility laws), or court-appointed guardians or conservators, especially in the absence of a ...
The SAGE test is a short, self-administered evaluation that screens for early signs of memory or thinking problems like dementia. You take it on your own, at home or at your provider's office. It's simple and there's no studying needed. It can catch issues early.
Although the early signs vary, common early symptoms of dementia include: memory problems, particularly remembering recent events. increasing confusion.
They also found that breakfast skippers were more likely to experience cognitive decline and signs of neurodegeneration during the study period. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that “breakfast skipping was linked to an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline and neurodegeneration among older adults.”
The cause of roughly 70% of all dementia cases is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, leading to memory loss and impaired thinking that interferes with daily life, making it the most common form of dementia.
Some studies have shown that caffeine in coffee and tea may reduce dementia risk by a small amount, while other studies show no effect or a slightly increased risk.